AND THATS HOW THE WORLD BEGAN ౨ৎ rooster

[nutmegpurr nutmegpurr]

Nutmeg is an excellent worker, at least on the surface. She does not complain, does not share more than quiet contemplation- she does her job, she does it to the best of her abilities. Though she can tell she was slowing more recently Her chest has felt heavier, these days, her paws feel more like they're dragging than walking. She feels exhaustion pull at the corners of her mind, but she pushes forwards regardless, curled ears swiveling back as the greenleaf heat beats down unto her coat. The heat makes her slightly dizzy but again, she pushes on, nearing the border tail flicking behind her. The pines stretch on forever, the difference in sights is a blessing and a curse.

The thunderpath is horribly acidic today. Nutmeg wrinkles her nose.

The sound of paw-steps behind her causes her to narrow her eyes, the fur along her spine raising ever so slightly as she turns her head next, surveying. The grass parts, she prepares... It's Roostertuft. She relaxes slightly, but her shoulders are still tense as her eyes flit back over to Shadowclan territory. "Didn't expect to see anyone else here." it was admittance, sure, but it was an attempt at a conversation starter. She doesn't much care, anymore.

GOOD NEWS FOR ANYONE ♡ WHO LOVES BAD NEWS

• @ROOSTERTUFT kicks feet, giggling and twirling my hair
  
•  
• 
  NUTMEGPURR ♡
  
  ( gale guard of windclan, 25 moons )​
  ❥ a tall cinnamon tortie with curled ears & pink-brown eyes; well-muscled & fluffy
  ❥ mentoring n/a
  ❥ sister to meadowpaw & peafowlpaw
  ❥ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ❥ penned by chuff
  
  "speech"

 

[ROOSTERTUFT]

NAMEHERE ── .✦

Chaps or rather, Roostertuft, had been trying to adapt to the sudden changes in his life even if he found it a bit troubling to say the least but he would push onward and do his duty as a warrior of Windclan. He's no longer a barncat that could spend his days within the horseplace and laze about on piles of hay, he remembers the simplicity of those days, and finds himself missing them a lot more than he cares to admit. The grass underneath his paws tickle as he pads throughout the territory so that he'd remember each landmark... so that he could have it down and not feel like he'd end up somewhere else entirely. The longhaired tom can feel the way that the warmth of the sun bleeds into his coat, it reminds him of those days where he'd sleep in even if he knows that isn't a possible luxury anymore lest he become a rogue, and that isn't a path that he's willing to walk just yet.

His tufted ears angling forward when he catches the dappled pelt of Nutmegpurr and he approaches with a quiver of his whiskers, she seems to hear him as she turns in his direction to which his own gaze locks with hers. "I didn't either... reckon I'd be alone out 'ere but having company is nice." Rooster says rather plainly though there's faint traces of a smile forming on his maw as his paws shuffle against the blades of grass that threaten to cling onto his coat, his own earthy gaze unwavering as he allows himself to grow lost in that molten honeyed pools that belonged to Nutmeg, and he blinks once noticing the way that her paws had been dragging earlier when he had passed her earlier within camp. "You're as pale and wobbly as a newborn lamb." Surely, she would know better than to work herself to the bone but he doubts that anyone has talked to her about it or even had the courage of doing so, Rooster found it came to him rather easily given how he could be blunt at times.

"Have ya been taking time for yerself? So, that you aren't wearing yerself thin?" It isn't any of his business really, he didn't know how Dustystar divided the work between all his council members, and his mind wanders briefly thinking about Goldenroar. The other tom had become Windclan's prized pony as he moved up in the ranks to settle down beside the newest leader with his own shining ribbon to wear and prance around so that all the other clans knew who would be next in line. There's complicated feelings that had been untouched for several moons but he chooses to shove them down once more so that he'd focus on Nutmeg instead of thinking of that stupid golden mane and dumb sunshine bathed tomcat, Rooster would be better off if Goldenroar didn't live in his mind rent free.

A snort slips from him as his feathery tail flicks behind him before lifting into the air and tilts his helm to the side "You look like you need a breather or nap... or one of everythin'." A nicer way of saying that she looked awful without actually saying it.

 

[nutmegpurr nutmegpurr]

Seems like he hadn't expected her presence either, and the mutual feeling shared between her relaxes the tension in her shoulders ever so slightly. She vaguely remembers him from the barn- oh, the barn… Something homesick rears its ugly head and her gaze grows less sharp, a bit more unfocused. She misses it so, so greatly, misses the simplicity… Or maybe she just missed the fact that what she had left of her brother had burnt down to the ground with it. She swallows, hard, an ear flicking. His gaze is a bit too intense for her liking, but she can see the smile. Maybe he's right… Company would be nice, and she forces herself to relax.

You're as pale and wobbly as a newborn lamb.

Her lips purse in to a thin line and a heavy breath is exhaled through her nose, something akin to a sigh, something akin to a half-laugh. She can't deny it, not really, but hearing it said out loud… Stings a little, hurts, when shes taken so much pride in dedicating her time to others. She has never really had much time to take care of herself, not since her brother had up and left. It was easier split between two, it was easier when it was not just her, but when her eyes briefly flutter shut as the cogs in her brain turns, she sees familiar green eyes, a gentle smile. Yellow eyes, full of warmth… She has to remind herself that she does it for them. "Thanks," she finally responds. "Just tell me I look horrible next time, I think that felt worse." its meant to be a jest, but it comes out with dry humor. She licks her lips, awkward as he speaks again.

Another sigh leaves her, less audible than before, but with the heave of her sides its more than visible.

A nap would be nice… When she thinks about it, her body yearns to be back in her nest, to curl in to it and fall asleep for a very, very long time. "I wish." it comes out accidentally, an admittance she hadn't meant to voice. It's pining, yearning. She… She suddenly finds herself aching for the closeness of someone else. Shes not sure who, her sister, her little brother, him. "I mean…" she looks away. To be vulnerable with a clanmate, if just for one moment… She feels so uptight around the council, following each and every order given to her, ensuring it was followed through with precision. She keeps an eye on what used to be her mother, ensuring that she no longer harms Meadowpaw, no longer harms anyone with a tongue as sharp as hers had been. She feels distant from her sister, which she knows isn't truly the case, but with both of them being busy…? And her poor little brother, Stars, she should really check up on him, shouldn't she? She had so much to do, so little time. "I'm so tired. I haven't gotten a proper nights sleep in moons." she finally rasps. When it comes out, shes not sure why she said it anymore. He hadn't really asked, had he? "But I'll manage." she tacks on quickly, tail sweeping over the ground as she takes a few steps away from the thunderpath. She's not even sure why she came to this border, really. There wasn't much to sightsee here.

The silence stretches, yet for some reason, shes desperate to fill it. Desperate to keep the exhaustion from seizing her mind. "Are you settling in well?" she turns to face him, now, ears swiveling back. It's a loaded question, but she thinks it evens the playing field for them both… Or maybe she's just scrambling for shared vulnerability, so she wasn't left looking like a fool. Her stomach twists painfully in its confines.

GOOD NEWS FOR ANYONE ♡ WHO LOVES BAD NEWS

• 
  
•  
• 
  NUTMEGPURR ♡
  
  ( gale guard of windclan )​
  ❥ a tall cinnamon tortie with curled ears & pink-brown eyes; well-muscled & fluffy
  ❥ mentoring n/a
  ❥ sister to meadowpaw & peafowlpaw
  ❥ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ❥ penned by chuff
  
  "speech"

 

[ROOSTERTUFT]

NAMEHERE ── .✦

He can't help but inwardly wince at her response to him, nicely telling her that she didn't look all that great and he isn't certain if her words are meant to be joking or if he had actually upset her. Rooster has to admit that it likely wasn't the smoothest delivery but he sincerely hopes that he hadn't offended her in some way and blinks his earthy toned eyes at her only to glance to the side so that their eyes weren't locked to one another during this rather awkward exchange. "I suppose I can see the reasonin' behind that." He muses earnestly as he pauses to evaluate his next words and continues with a slow nod, "You don't look horrible, although, you do look like your ready to topple over." Hopefully, that would lessen the earlier blow that he had delivered without his intent in doing so and spares a glance in the direction of the Thunderpath. His snout wrinkles at the smell of the asphalt river that splits the territories, the way that the heat seems to radiate off of it, and he can pick up the faint smell of roadkill. An easy meal for scavengers from both land and skies, he wouldn't ever be able to stomach such a thing and the thought alone causes him to shudder with disgust.

"I wish."

She says suddenly that it pulls him out from his own thoughts and the ghost of a smile seems to fade away from his own russet maw. Rooster hadn't expected for Nutmeg to suddenly open up but he finds it to be nice and refreshing in a sense, they had both lost, and perhaps, this was a way to have closure. The molly admits that she hasn't gotten a proper night's sleep in moons and he can only imagine that it's because of the fires that had swallowed up the barn. He'd be a liar to not admit that the sight of dancing flames hungrily lapping up at everything within its sight, so many memories burnt away even if some of them were bittersweet, and he was trying not to cling onto them for much longer. Rooster prepares to respond in return yet she's swift to add that she'll manage and he can't help but quirk an eyebrow in her direction as he echoes her words "You'll manage?" A part of him wishes that he could believe her but he's sure that Dustystar's prized gale guard would only run herself into the ground at this rate.

"I don't doubt you but… you're doing enough and you shouldn't need to work yourself to the bone to prove it." He offers lightly knowing that his words likely wouldn't be heeded right away and that itself causes him to roll his shoulders as he too takes some steps away from the Thunderpath unable to look at it for any longer. When silence falls between them, he's prepared to dismiss himself but Nutmeg speaks once more and it captivates him… he tries not to blink in surprise at the sudden question and a frown pulls at either side of his mouth deciding to take another step away then glancing towards the sky. "It isn't the barn by any means but it'll do… it still feels weird to be Roostertuft and not y'know me... Chaps." He pauses at his sudden confession and shuffles his ivory dipped paws against the grass once more, "It's still a lot t'get used to." Roostertuft flicks an ear to the side, still not sure if this is just his feeling or if someone else shares the sentiment that they had been thrust into this sudden change of pace and clan life without warning.

Although, it could've been worse and he could've lost a lot more than he had originally… he should think of the brighter future that Windclan had for him, whatever that might be. "But I'll manage." Rooster adds on in a lighthearted tone despite the way that a dry chuckle follows after and he focuses on the gale guard for a heartbeat longer "We all will… in due time." Or those that couldn't adapt would eventually end up departing from the clan, whether it's by leaving or death paying them an early visit and guiding them to an even earlier grave. He finds that he would be too stubborn to die or allow himself to be killed.

"And you?" Rooster asks with a curt nod of his helm, deciding to not let silence fall between them so that their conversation isn't as awkward with sudden pauses. The feeling of the sun on his plush coat makes the weather a little insufferable and he tries to look for anything that could provide shade but that feels impossible with the terrain of Windclan's territory so he settles down on his haunches without another word. Soon enough the beating of the sun would lessen and the grass would shift into a more golden hue, leaf-fall was one of his more favorable seasons that didn't make him feel like he was burning every moment outside of camp. "They ain't overworking you, are they?" Rooster decides to ask, unable to stop his curiosity, he's certain that the new leader doesn't overwork any of his clanmates, and well, maybe a different gale guard could lessen the weight from Nutmeg's shoulders so she could take it easy.